Perfection
It was a normal day, like any other. The two teams headed out into the field to take their respective positions. Of the two teams, there was a small boy, Jayden. He had been on the team for a while, but this was the first game that he actually got to play. Jayden was the youngest on his team and not very skilled. But he loved baseball more than anything. He ran out into left field and took his position. As the game got underway, many of the other players were quick to take advantage of Jayden’s diminutive stature, and tried to knock it his way every chance he got. His teammates tried to cover for him as best they could, urging him not to be afraid of the ball. “Just stick your hand out. It’ll come to you,” one of the boys said.
The words seemed to make Jayden relaxed a little. Soon another pop fly came his way, and he stuck his glove out, just as his teammate said. The ball came hurling down towards him, and Jayden shut his eyes as he reached out his glove. Suddenly there was a thud. Jayden opened his eyes and looked at his glove. He caught the ball! The crowd cheered, and his teammates all rushed over to congratulate him. That was the third out and it now their turn to bat.
As the game continued on, neither team seemed to be able to make a decisive run against the other. It was finally the last inning and the score was tied at 2 to 2 and two outs. Jayden stood nervously as it was his turn to bat. His teammates smiled warmly encouraging him to step up to the plate. Oh, but Jayden was as nervous as a june bug. Meekly, he stepped on to the plate setting his bat at the ready. His knees were shaking uncontrollably. The pitcher had been pitching normal the whole game, but couldn’t bring himself to do that to Jayden. He took a step forward, and gently let the ball sail underhanded. Jayden was so scared he shut his eyes swinging blindly with all his might. “STRIKE,” the umpire yelled. “Shake it off Jayden. You can do it,” one of his teammates called out. The pitcher took another step closer getting ready to let another one sail. Jayden choked the bat, trying to steel his nerves. He let another one fly and Jayden took another swing. He connected! But it went foul and he had to try again.
Everyone continued to encourage him further. The pitcher got a little closer still and let the ball fly. With all his might, Jayden swung that bat, hitting the top of the ball. “Run,” his teammates yelled. Jayden took off towards first base as the ball rolled its way to the pitcher. Grabbing the ball, he stood up to throw it to first, but passed it to the short stop instead. The other players quickly noticed his intentions and all came in from the outfield. As Jayden came closer to first base, his teammates starting calling out, “Go to second! Go to second!” Jayden didn’t blink, coming off the first base and heading to second. “Keep going! Go to third,” they yelled. The players in the outfield, continued to toss the ball around. Some of them cheering and urging Jayden to go on. The fans in the crowd all stood up, cheering. “Go Jayden! Go Jayden,” as he rounded to third. Jayden couldn’t believe it! He just peddled on as fast as he could, rounding third and running towards home plate. All his teammates gathered up and started running beside him cheering and calling out to him. Jayden just kept running sliding into home like he saw all the big players do on TV. Everyone in the crowd erupted in cheer calling out to Jayden, “You did it! You won the game!” The other team rushed in to congratulate him and, lifting Jayden high in the air as Jayden just cried tears of joy.
Now the other team knew they could’ve won the game, but that wasn’t what was important to them. They were there to have fun, and knew there was no reason that Jayden shouldn’t experience the same thing. Sharing in that moment of bringing joy to a little boy’s face was the moment they all reached perfection.